Lava flow on Hawaii's Big Island crosses onto residential property

Hawaii officials will make arrangements for those living in the path of a lava flow to watch the destruction of their homes. Lava was about 100 yards from a home on Monday.

Hawaii officials will make arrangements for those living in the path of a lava flow to watch the destruction of their homes. Lava was about 100 yards from a home on Monday.

Tribune wire report

The lava flow from a volcano on Hawaii's Big Island could reach homes within the day.

A stream of lava from the Kilauea volcano crossed onto a residential property on Hawaii's Big Island where it was threatening to destroy its first house since the flow began on June 27, Hawaii County Civil Defense officials said on Tuesday.

The flow has advanced about 90 yards since Monday morning as it moved toward Pahoa village, the civil defense statement said. Residents in the path of the slow-moving lava flow have been told to be ready to evacuate.

The flow has been moving at an average, though inconsistent, speed of 5 to 10 yards per hour.

The flow, which first bubbled out of the continuously erupting Kilauea on June 27, came to a standstill in late September but resumed its trudge several weeks ago. It has moved about 275 yards since Sunday morning.

The leading edge of the flow, which scientists said had narrowed to about 55 yards wide by Monday evening, has already overrun a cemetery on its path toward Pahoa village, a historic former sugar plantation consisting of small shops and homes with a population of about 800 people.

"We're a resilient community, so we'll get through this," said Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a small business owner and county council election candidateate. "But as a mom, I'm uneasy, anxious, and fearful."

Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said residents whose homes may be razed by the lava will be allowed into the restricted area to take photos and video for insurance purposes.

Oliveira said authorities were sensitive to the emotional trauma victims faced.

"As with past flows, our policy is to let people remain in their property until the last possible moment," he said. "Many of these residents have lived in their homes for generations. We want to give people every opportunity for closure, to document the event for insurance purposes, as well as family history, and to respect the grieving process in this difficult time."

Two roads have been closed and the American Red Cross has opened an emergency shelter, Mayor Billy Kenoi's office said. Crews have been building temporary access roads and trying to protect Highway 130, a route traveled by as many as 10,000 cars a day.

Methane explosions have also occurred near the front of the lava flow, said Janet Babb, a geologist and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spokeswoman, likely due to decomposing vegetation which produce pools of the gas under the surface.